Yelawolf - Trial by Fire Album Review
Yelawolf returns with another fresh album, bringing with him some intense flow and great lyrics. Trial by Fire is an example of Yelawolf’s evolution, yet retaining some creative decisions and tributes/callbacks to the 90s. It sounds like a standard album of that era, chock full of sounds and rhythm to take the listener back in to the East-West rivalry era.
Previous albums and works of Yelawolf have had consistent flow, good production and great lyrics. His junior album Trial by Fire is no exception — it comes in with some of the best lyrics of the year. “Get Mine” featuring Kid Rock is a good and stellar example. It combines the lyrics with intense and aggressive flow and production to create a track that is memorable and unique. The title track is itself another great addition to the album, with the slow pace of the production merging spectacularly with Yelawolf’s flow and speed as he raps his lyrics. The album is consistent with both production and lyrics and is cemented as one of Yelawolf’s better works.
This album, however, is not one that can be appreciated as much if the listener has not listened to Yelawolf prior. While anyone can hear his talent with a listen of this new album, there is a development that they are missing without listening to the rapper’s prior works. There is an impressive amount of work done with his vocals and his features that he was able to acquire — Travis Barker, the aforementioned Kid Rock, and Juicy J — to name a few. This album can also turn off potential listeners who do not have a prior background to albums of the 90s and early 2000s. It is an homage and callback to that style of rap, which not everyone is familiar with. Another potential concern is the ability to stay consistently listening. Yelawolf’s voice isn’t one that really grips the listener tight. It almost seems to be a bit of a trek when listening to it. It is a bit difficult trying to stay focused and stay along with, but the payoff is well worth the slow movement.
Yelawolf has created a piece that is made with a lot of effort, care and time to take the listener back into the 1990s and 2000s time of rap, while also making a significant and unique piece on its own. It is a milestone in the rapper’s performance ability and his potential to progress even further. Without prior listening, his evolution can be missed and not as noticed upon hearing this track. But regardless, anyone is able to pick up his talent and his potential to be an even greater artist. Yelawolf has made impressionable tracks and is on his way to becoming a more recognized and appreciated artist and rapper. His album is certainly not one of the best ever made, but it serves as a hidden and pleasant surprise within this year’s already great hip hop lineup.
Rating: 6/10
Jack Grossman is a sophomore majoring in telecommunications. To contact him, email jackdgrossman@gmail.com.
